I've been on a kick recently of eating this super quick and easy meal and wanted to share it with you all. The video is designed with my LEAP clients in mind, hence the wording of using "allowed" foods.

When it comes to chronic problems, everyone agrees that diet plays a role... yet its often the last thing we turn to for treatment. Why is that?

Well, because its REALLY HARD to figure out exactly what is causing you problems. There are three main reasons for this...

Food sensitivities are dose dependent... meaning a little might be fine but a lot isn't; you can have some once in a while but not everyday.

Food reactions can be delayed by up to 3 days after ingestion, unlike food allergies which happen immediately. Who would think that avocado you had a couple days ago is causing you that headache today?

Our foods contain many chemicals (natural and added) that we may not even be aware of but that are wreaking havoc in our bodies.

These food sensitivities cause inflammation in our body and lead to bothersome and painful symptoms including IBS, migraines and other headaches, fibromyalgia, hives/eczema, fatigue, depression, weight problems, ADHD, joint/muscle pain and many more problems.

So then what do you do? You can tediously record all your food intake and try your best to connect the dots (but because of the 3 points above you may not come to any conclusions). You can try taking various foods out of your diet. You can take medications and supplements to dull or mask your symptoms. And you may feel a little better. Maybe.

Or not.

I've spent the last several months studying food sensitivities and I'm finally ready to share with you what I've learned.

MRT in combination with the LEAP program is a strategic and highly effective method of dealing with the dietary components of many chronic conditions and symptoms caused by delayed food sensitivities that are often failed by conventional treatments.

Most patients experience significant relief in ​just 10-14 days.

Mediator Release Test (MRT)​ is a blood test that measures your body's immune reaction to the most common 120 foods and 30 food chemicals. Unlike other food sensitivity tests that measure presence of antibodies which may or may not be causing problems for you, MRT measures if a reaction is actually happening in your body when exposed to specific foods.​

Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) is the ImmunoCalm eating plan that follows the test so you can use foods to calm inflammation, heal your body from the inside out and feel better. This is where the magic happens! Because of the nuances of food sensitivities, it is vital that you do this part with the guidance of a LEAP-trained dietitian.

Do your kids (or you) eat a lot of peanut butter? Switch it up a bit with this tasty alternative. If you're craving something sweet, this is a great choice that packs in 4 grams of protein per cookie and heart healthy oil to balance out the sugar. Without any flour, these cookies have the added perk of being gluten-free! Also, sunflower seeds are an excellent source of antioxidants vitamin E and selenium, as well as magnesium.

In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients until smooth. The batter will slightly thicken after being mixed together.

Refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Take walnut-size portions of the batter, lightly roll in hands and place on a lightly oiled or lined baking sheet. The batter will be very soft but holds together without being sticky. Place cookies about 1-2 inches apart, as they will not spread much.

Use a fork to make imprints on top of the cookies. If the fork sticks, dip the fork in sugar or just sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar on each cookie before pressing the fork into it.

Bake for 12 minutes. Don't overbake these cookies! (err on the side of underbaking if in doubt). Allow cookies to cool.

The literal Greek definition for probiotic is "for life", which explains why they are so important after taking antibiotics that kill both the bad and good bacteria in our bodies. But did you know that probiotics also influence how we experience life? Mood isn't all in our heads, its also in our guts. Think about all the gut-brain connections... anxiety and "butterflies" in our stomachs, depression and over- or undereating, migraine headaches and nausea, and the list goes on and on. Bacteria in our gut plays a crucial role in immunity, metabolism and even mood.

Get probiotics from:

Yogurt

Miso soup

Kefir, buttermilk and acidophilus milk

Tempeh

Kimchi

Kombucha tea

Probiotic supplements

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. Since our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats, we must get them through food. Omega-3's are necessary for normal body function and are well known for their ability to protect against many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. They also have shown to be effective in preventing depression and managing depressive symptoms. You should aim to get at least one rich source of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet each day. This could be through a serving of fatty fish, a handful of walnuts, a tablespoon of canola or soybean oil in salad dressing or in cooking, or a tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed into your morning oatmeal. For more intensive support, you can take a fish oil supplement. Nordic Naturals and Barlean's brands are top quality and readily available at drugstores. For personalized recommendations, consult your doctor or registered dietitian.

Most of you probably know that vitamin D is good for our bones. But you may not realize the many other ways vitamin D affects us, such as the important role it plays in mental health and depression. Research has shown a link between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and symptoms of depression. The connection isn't fully understood at this point so we can't say whether a low vitamin D increases risk for depression or if being depressed leads to vitamin D deficiency.

Our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunshine. Living far from the equator (like in Seattle), combined with less daylight hours in the winter time means vitamin D deficiency is very common, especially in the winter months. Taking a daily vitamin D supplement is generally a good idea for most people and you may experience some mood-improving benefits. Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level. If your blood level is low (below 30), you'll need a high dosage for a while to rebuild your body's stores of vitamin D.Get Vitamin D from:

Sunshine

Fortified milk

Fatty fish and cod liver oil

Egg yolks

Vitamin D3 supplements (cholecalciferol)

Breakfast Foods

Start the day out right by waking up after a restful sleep and restarting your system with an energy-packed breakfast meal. Breakfast has shown to be the most beneficial meal for staying alert, maintaining concentration and supporting learning throughout the day. Eating a good breakfast with plenty of protein also ensures our brains are adequately supplied with essential nutrients for making neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals play an important role in regulating mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory and more. Research indicates that low levels of these substances is associated with increased incidence of depression.

To make sure you're getting a good breakfast, be sure to include a combination of at least 3 foods, including complex carbohydrates, protein and fruit or veggie. Examples include:

Cereal + milk + banana

English muffin + nut butter + grapes

Wheat toast + cheesy scrambled eggs + mixed vegetables

Hashbrowns + sausage + grilled peppers

Granola + yogurt + berries

Oatmeal + nuts + dried fruit + glass of milk

Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace element, meaning our bodies require it in small amounts from food. Increasing selenium, especially in people with deficiency, has shown to improve mood. Some people at increased risk of selenium deficiency include vegetarians, people with gastrointestinal problems and alcoholics.

How did you get your name, Swiss? Swiss cheese is the American generic name used to describe me since I resemble a cheese from Switzerland called Emmental or Emmentaler. How would you describe yourself? I am pale yellow in color, nutty in flavor, and have a medium-hard texture. Most people know me for my big “eyes”, more commonly referred to as holes. You do have very pretty eyes, Swiss. How did you get them? My eyes were formed by bacteria and gas while I was being fermented. There are three types of bacteria that are used in the production of Swiss cheese. During production, one of these bacteria consumes the lactic acid excreted by the other bacteria and produces bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. When the milk solidifies into cheese, these bubbles form the holes that are my eyes.Some say that eyes can tell you a lot about a cheese. What do you think about that? It’s true, the larger the eyes in a Swiss cheese, the stronger it’s flavor. It all goes back to fermentation – longer fermentation time means more gas is produced (hence bigger holes) and the stronger the flavor. You might notice that pre-sliced Swiss cheese has smaller holes than non-sliced versions. This is because the large holes make it hard for mechanical slicers to cut through.Can you be incorporated into a nutritious and delicious diet? Absolutely! The USDA recommends that all Americans 9 years and older consume 3 cups of milk per day. 2 slices of me (1 ½ ounces) counts as 1 cup of milk and provides a whopping 12 grams of protein. I am also an excellent source of calcium, vitamin B12 and phosphorus. However, I do have a considerable amount of saturated fat and cholesterol so I should be eaten in moderation.